This blog post will walk you through: vitamin d 1 2 3.
Supplements 101: Vitamin D
It’s a family of nutrients that shares similarities in chemical structure. Research even suggests that vitamin D2 is less effective than vitamin D3 at raising blood levels of vitamin D. This article sums up the main differences between vitamin D2 and D3.
Official Answer
In D” now refers to several different forms.
Vitamin D2 is a synthetic form (man made) and Vitamin D3 is the internal form that we make. It was later learned that the vitamin D1 was a mixture of compounds rather than a pure vitamin D product, so the term D1 is no longer used.
What Are The Main Differences Between Vitamin D And D3?
The term vitamin D is kind of a misnomer because you will not find anything labeled simply as “vitamin D” in a pharmacy vitamin aisle.
Rather, your choices will be vitamin D2 (What is vitamin D2?). The names can be confusing, because many times, patients go into the pharmacy looking for vitamin D and are surprised that there is a D2 and a D3. Its strength is typically measured in international units, which is abbreviated as “IU” on labeling.
The 50,000 IU capsules are prescription only, while lower strengths are available over-the-counter. Vitamin D is less expensive to produce and therefore is the form most commonly found in fortified food products. Vitamin D3 mainly comes from animal sources such as fish oil, fatty fish, liver, and egg yolks.
For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the sunshine vitamin. All forms of vitamin D3 are available over-the-counter.
What Is The Brand Name?
Ergocalciferol or vitamin D2
Drisdol, Calcidol, Calciferol Cholecalciferol, Vitamin D, Or Vitamin D3
Decara, Dialyvite D3 Max What Form(S) Does The Drug Come In?
1,000 Iu To 2,000 Iu Daily For Vitamin D Supplementation 1,000 Iu To 2,000 Iu Daily For Vitamin D Supplementation How Long Is The Typical Treatment?
Indefinite Indefinite Who Typically Uses The Medication?
Infants, children, adolescents, and adults Infants, children, adolescents, and adults.